I celebration of another year in the books, Puck Daddy posted a year end list of the worst hockey decisions of 2011. Among them, the giant contract given to former Flyer Ville Leino by the Buffalo Sabres.
↵↵↵This move has been Vilified (BECAUSE HIS NAME IS VILLE) as the worst free-agent signing of last summer, which is only underscored by the number of "I told you so's" that have accompanied it.
↵Leino, a complimentary player for the Philadelphia Flyers, got a star-level contract from the Buffalo Sabres for 6 years deal and 27 million of Terry Pegula's dollars. The theory was that he could be moved back to the center spot he played as a younger player, filling a need as the Sabres' second-line center.
↵Soon, he was playing down on the fourth line. In his first 22 games, he had five points. Leino's season looked like it was turning around after five points in seven games, but then a lower body injury put him on the shelf.
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One of those "I told you so's" came from us by the way. Before Leino ever even left we noted that a lot of his value came from playing with good linemates and being given easier minutes. Reasons why most Flyers fans had no problem with him leaving. Buffalo, eager to make any kind of splash however, put the blinders on and backed up the Brinks truck for Ville and so far it's been a disaster.
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